Which Verse?

Here’s a link to a New York Times article on a Baptist church in North Carolina. It brings to mind a question I’ve had (and one I’ve written of before.)

How does a Christian, much less a Christian church, determine just which portions of the Bible to use and which to reject?

Does it begin with Genesis? In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 KJV)

That first chapter speaks of six days of creative activities, along with a day of rest. If faced with evolution theories, does the first chapter get thrown out? If so, why bother with the remainder?

Perhaps one can get past creation, but what happens by the sixth and seventh chapters – can one accept an ark, a flood and do as Noah: And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. (Genesis 7:5 KJV)

Do we, after millennia, retain the faith of the worshipful psalmist who wrote Psalm 105? Retain the belief in Genesis that moved a nation? Or do we, as King David, pick a verse here and there and ignore Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14 KJV)

Is it a one-issue decision? Is there a specific sin one wishes to commit, so it is ignored? Does one believe in the sanctity of life to the extent that Exodus 21:23 is no longer valid? Or is one so pro-life that the same verse is applied to abortionists?

That’s not even half way through a few books in the Old Testament. What happens when one starts determining, as Thomas Jefferson did, that miracles don’t belong in the New? Toss out Christ’s divinity, and He becomes an interesting philosopher rather than the redeeming Son of God who said For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10 KJV)

Which portions of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John’s writings should be ignored? Or is it only Peter, Paul and James that cannot be trusted? Ooops, there’s the whole book of Revelation. Who wants to face the issues there?

Is it easier to accept that God loves everyone? For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Than it is to accept that not everyone will be with God eternally? He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18 KJV)

Do we understand why some reject Him? For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (John 3:20 KJV)

Or do we understand His pain as He states: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37 KJV)

My preference is that the Bible remains given by God to mankind for His purpose and that All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)